Show Summary:

We’re kicking off the new year with a spotlight on real engineers and scientists who inspire our work in STEM education. This week, we’re featuring Lillian Gilbreth and the incredible impact she made on engineering and human factors.

We’re also sharing highlights from our time at the 2026 SEEC conference — including the ideas, resources, and classroom-ready activities we brought back with us. And don’t miss the end of the episode, where we round up some of our favorite STEM news stories from the week!

ENGINEER SPOTLIGHT: Lillian Moller Gilbreth (1878–1972) was an American industrial engineer and psychologist who pioneered ergonomics and human-centered design. She helped develop the Therbligs, a system for analyzing basic human motions to improve efficiency, and applied these ideas to both workplaces and everyday objects, including the foot-pedal step trash can. With more than 20 patents, Gilbreth showed how thoughtful engineering can simplify tasks and improve daily life!

Links from the Show:

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